Donald Trump will hold a victory celebration in Washington D.C. one day before his second inauguration on January 20th.
The rally, Trump's first in D.C. since the Capitol riot on January 6th, 2021, marks an incredible reversal in fortune for the 45th and 47th president.
When Trump left the White House almost four years ago, he was accused of inciting an "insurrection," and many believed his political career was essentially over.
But Trump persevered through a second impeachment, a social media ban, multiple criminal prosecutions, an attempted ballot ban, and even assassination attempts to win re-election in a historic political comeback.
The symbolism of Trump's triumph will be complete when he's sworn in as the 47th president on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, facing the National Mall.
Before he puts his hand on the inaugural Bible, Trump will meet with thousands of supporters at D.C.'s Capital One Arena on January 19 to celebrate his comeback. The arena holds around 20,000 people.
The Trump rally, his first since winning the 2024 presidential election, begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 19th, with doors open at 11 a.m.
"Join President Trump at Capital One Arena for a victory rally you'll never forget!" the website for Trump's inauguration says.
Over the past four years, Trump was regularly accused of fomenting a violent insurrection at his rally at the Ellipse on January 6th, 2021, when he passionately urged his supporters to "peacefully and patriotically" protest the 2020 election results.
Trump has pledged to pardon many of the more than 1,500 people charged over the January 6th riot, which includes many non-violent protesters, on his first day back in the Oval Office.
"I'll be looking at J6 early on, maybe the first nine minutes," he told TIME for his Person of the Year interview, adding the "vast majority" of January 6th defendants have been mistreated.
Trump is beginning his second term with newfound popularity and Americans reporting optimism about his plans for the next four years, which include massive deportations of illegal aliens.
Meanwhile, Trump's opponents are mostly resigned to his victory, in contrast with his first term, which faced a massive and coordinated "resistance" that included rioting in D.C.
Trump's second inauguration will have a shade of solemnity because of the death of former president Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, less than a month before Trump's swearing-in. Flags will be lowered in Carter's honor on the day of Trump's inauguration, a coincidence Trump said Democrats are "giddy" about.
"Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
